Sacramento Big Rig Rollover Results in Fuel Spill

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July 25, 2023
Edward Smith

Traffic on West Side Freeway Affected by Big Rig Rollover

A big rig rollover occurred in the Upper Land Park area of Sacramento on July 23 that affected drivers using the West Side Freeway. The accident happened on northbound I-5 just south of the Q Street off-ramp around 5:46 a.m. The semi overturned on its left side, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), blocking one lane and causing a large diesel fuel spill. 

Large Diesel Fuel Spill Results in Big Rig Rollover

Firefighters with the Sacramento Fire Department arrived at the scene, and the chief put in a call for help to deal with the fuel spill, which was leaking down the roadway, covering three lanes for about 75 feet. A sweeper and absorbent were called in to deal with the spill, and a hard closure was put in place. At the time of the report, injuries in the accident hadn’t been mentioned. The CHP traffic investigators are handling the crash to determine how it occurred.

Causes of a Big Rig Rollover Accident

There are a variety of potential causes that can lead to a rollover accident involving a big rig, including those below: 

  • Driver error: One of the most common causes of big rig rollovers is driver error. Drivers may be inexperienced, distracted, fatigued, or impaired by drugs or alcohol. They may also be traveling too fast for the road conditions and not able to react quickly enough to avoid a rollover accident.
  • Mechanical issues: Mechanical issues such as faulty brakes or tires can increase the risk of an accident. If a vehicle is not properly maintained, it can lead to a mechanical failure that may cause a rollover accident.
  • Road conditions: Poorly designed or maintained roads can increase the risk of an accident involving a large vehicle. Potholes, sharp turns, wet pavement and debris in the road can all create hazardous conditions for trucks.
  • Loading practices: Cargo that is not properly loaded or on a trailer can lead to instability and make it more likely for a truck to roll over. If cargo is overloaded, unevenly distributed or secured inappropriately, this can increase the risk of an accident. Additionally, if an animal trailer does not have enough livestock inside to provide ballast and stability, it increases the possibility of a rollover accident.

What Your Injury Lawyer Can Do for You

Truck accidents are complex and have insurance carriers involved, so retaining an accident attorney to determine the cause can be helpful. In addition to finding out how the accident occurred and if the driver and/or employer are to blame, the attorney can provide you with advice regarding how to proceed to receive personal injury damages by estimating the cost of your medical care, your lost wages and what pain and suffering compensation you should receive. 

Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer, recommends looking for the following qualities in a lawyer:

Truck Accident Lawyer in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, a truck accident lawyer in Sacramento. Far too often, when a semi gets involved in a collision, it also impacts other, smaller vehicles, causing injuries. If this happened to you, you have grounds to place a claim to recover compensation from the at-fault party. If you’re interested in getting free and friendly advice on whether you can file a claim, contact us at (916) 921-6400. You also have the option of reaching us either at (800) 404-5400 or sending us an online message.

Below are links that will give you a better idea of how our team of injury lawyers has assisted others:

As well as memberships in other organizations, our accident attorneys also belong to the following:

Photo attribution: Image by Denise McQuillen from Pixabay

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